Discipleship and Mission GENERAL INTRODUCTION This quarter surveys several calls to ministry and the expectations of those called. Calls to service, as recorded in the gospels of Mark and Luke, are highlighted. We explore Paul’s call to ministry, with special attention to the Roman church. On Easter Sunday, we examine Matthew’s account of the Resurrection. Unit I, “Call to Discipleship,” has four lessons and highlights several aspects of what it means to be called by Jesus as a disciple. They include hospitality, counting the cost, reaching the lost, and salvation for all people. Unit II, “Call to Ministry,” has five lessons that explore the diverse ways in which Jesus’ disciples were challenged to exercise their call to ministry: by witnessing to the Gospel message, acting with loving kindness, sharing the Resurrection story, and making new disciples through preaching, teaching, and baptism. Unit III, “The Spread of the Gospel” (four lessons), begins with Paul’s introduction of himself to the Jewish and Gentile Christians living in Rome. Paul affirms that the call to salvation is to Israel and to Gentiles. This call to salvation is a call to a life in the Spirit and involves a new life in Christ. Spring 2018–TOWNSEND PRESS COMMENTARY | 1 2 | TOWNSEND PRESS COMMENTARY–Spring 2018 March 3, 2019 Lesson 1 CALLED TO HUMILITY AND HOSPITALITY ADULT/YOUTH CHILDREN ADULT/YOUNG ADULT TOPIC: Humility Is Good GENERAL LESSON TITLE: Called to Be Humble for You and Kind YOUTH TOPIC: Sitting with the Lowly CHILDREN’S TOPIC: Dare to Care and Share DEVOTIONAL READING Luke 14:15-24 ADULT/YOUTH BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:7-14 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:7-14 PRINT PASSAGE: Luke 14:7-14 PRINT PASSAGE: Luke 14:7-14 KEY VERSES: Luke 14:13-14a KEY VERSE: Luke 14:11 CHILDREN Luke 14:7-14—KJV Luke 14:7-14—NIV 7 And he put forth a parable to those which 7 When he noticed how the guests picked were bidden, when he marked how they chose the places of honor at the table, he told them this out the chief rooms; saying unto them. parable: 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for more honourable man than thou be bidden of a person more distinguished than you may have him; been invited. 9 “If so, the host who invited both 9 And he that bade thee and him come and of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin your seat.’ Th en, humiliated, you will have to with shame to take the lowest room. take the least important place. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit 10 “But when you are invited, take the lowest down in the lowest room; that when he that bade place, so that when your host comes, he will say thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Th en higher: then shalt thou have worship in the you will be honored in the presence of all the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. other guests. 11 “For all those who exalt 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be themselves will be humbled, and those who abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 Then exalted. 12 Th en said he also to him that bade Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon him, When thou or dinner, do not invite your friends, makest a Spring 2018–TOWNSEND PRESS COMMENTARY | 3 dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a back and so you will be repaid. recompence be made thee. 13 “But when you give a banquet, invite the UNIFYING LESSON PRINCIPLE: People crave recognition and status but are never satisfi ed and always want more. How does one fi nd true fulfi llment in relationship to others? Jesus taught that demonstrating humility and extending unselfi sh hospitality bring fulfi llment in this life and in the life to come. LESSON OBJECTIVES Upon the completion of this lesson, the students will be able to do the following: 1. Examine Jesus’ teaching about humility and hospitality described in Luke 14:7-14. 2. Refl ect on their own tendencies to seek honor and praise for selfi sh reasons. 3. Identify ways to give honor and respect to people who might be considered “unworthy” by popular standards. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 “and you will be blessed. Although they 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be resurrection of the righteous.” recompensed at the resurrection of the just. AGE-LEVEL POINTS TO BE —Th ese teachings of Jesus about true spiritual EMPHASIZED character in His followers fi t well into His Teachers of ADULTS and YOUTH tendency of reversal of social practices typical —Jesus was introducing a new teaching—the of the times (see Matthew 5–7). importance and rewards of crossing social —Th e direct opposite of the humility Jesus boundaries, to include people already humbled teaches in these verses is exhibited by the by life’s circumstances. mother of the sons of Zebedee and the —In many cultures, honor equals power. Being disciples in Matthew 20:20-28. exalted by others is okay, but self-exaltation is —Luke 14:1-6 provides background and setting not (see Proverbs 25:6-7; Matthew 23:12; for this parable. Luke 18:14; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5-6). —In the Greco-Roman world, inviting someone —Self-examination, discipline, and sacrifi ce are of inferior status was acceptable, but inviting a required in seeking to understand and follow crippled or poor person was not. the teaching of Jesus about humility and —It was already taught that God would reward hospitality. those who helped the poor (see Proverbs 19:17). 4 | TOWNSEND PRESS COMMENTARY–Spring 2018 Teachers of CHILDREN —Don’t assume you are the most important per- —When invited to a celebration, show humility son at a celebration. by leaving the best seats for special guests. —Issue invitations to special events to persons —Allow your host to decide who will have the best seats. whose social locations are different from yours. —Give your host an opportunity to honor you by —Both guests and hosts are addressed in Jesus’ seating you in the best location. story. All are responsible for hospitality. THE CHRONOLOGICAL SETTING OF cultural norms of that day, seeking places of honor at dinner parties was quite typical THE LESSON behavior. Jesus, an invited guest at the dinner Jesus’ discourse in Luke 14:7-14 is given in the party, observed the other guests’ jockeying to setting of a meal. More specifically, it relates to grab the seats closest to the host that would meals within the framework of invitations to bestow on them the badge of highest ranking in dinner parties. The idea of a dinner party the social order. The hosts arranged the couches functions on three levels in this scene: (1) The in the dining area to reflect the order of the dinner party as setting for Jesus’ discourse; (2) importance of the guests. Where one sat Jesus’ discourse about (human) dinner parties; (3) indicated one’s rank relative to that of the other the dinner party as a metaphor for the joyful guests. Getting a good seat at the party said a lot kingdom of God. The interplay between these about one’s social standing in the community. three levels adds to the richness of this scene. After observing the guests’ stepping all over one The scene may reflect the custom of the another for the most prominent seats at the symposium, a dinner and drinking party that dinner party, Jesus took them to task for this included after-dinner speeches. The symposium widely practiced custom. He had already could be the setting for philosophical discussion pronounced a woe on a group of Pharisees for or merely for witty remarks. In Luke 14, their love of the seats of honor in the however, Jesus alone is allowed to give a speech. marketplaces (see Luke 11:43). He characterized The narrator is interested only in Jesus’ them as those who seek righteousness in the discourse, leaving us with the impression that the sight of others. Much later, He would warn His others cannot match Jesus’ wisdom. disciples not to be like the scribes who parade about in long robes, desiring to be saluted with THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND stately greetings in public, while seeking places of CULTURAL SETTING OF THE honor at banquets (see Luke 20:46). In our lesson today, Jesus witnessed a similar grab for LESSON honor and power in action—as the guests made The dinner at the Pharisee’s house, mentioned a mad dash for the most prominent seats of earlier in Luke 14:1, is the setting of this passage. honor as if it were a game of musical chairs.